NBI: Mayor Espinosa Died Through Assassination, Not In Shootout

Mayor Rolando Espinosa Died Due To Assassination, Not In Shootout, NBI Says

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said that Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa died through assassination and not in a shootout.

18 police officers from Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP – CIDG) and 6 officers from PNP Maritime Unit 8 will face perjury and multi-murder cases to be filed by Department of Justice recommended by NBI.

The accused officers were part of the team who presented the search warrant for Mayor Espinosa resulted to an alleged shootout incident which killed the Leyte mayor on November 05, 2016. The incident happened inside the jail cell of Espinosa at the sub-provincial jail in Baybay City.

On Tuesday (December 06, 2016), in a press briefing, NBI spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin said that Espinosa was a rubout victim and not a shootout. Lavin believes that there are a conspiracy and criminality behind Espinosa’s death.

“The pieces of evidence and the forensic examinations conducted by the NBI had matched. We have a strong case,” said by Lavin quoted by Manila Bulletin.

CIDG Region 8 chief Superintendent Marvin Marcos, Superintendent Noel Matira, Chief Inspector Leo Laraga, Senior Inspectors Deogracia Diaz and Fritz Blanco, Senior Police Officers Melvin Cayobit, Eric Constantino, Benjamin Dacallos, Juanito Duarte and Alphinor Serrano Jr., police officers Johnny Ibanez, Norman Abellanosa, NielCentino, Bernard Orpilla, Lloyd Ortiguesa, Jerlan Cabiyaan, Cristal Gisma and Divine Grace Songalia are facing multiple murder charges.

While, PNP Regional Maritime Unit 8 personnel Chief Inspector Calixto Canillas Jr., Inspector Lucresito Candelosas, and police officers Antonio Docil, Mark Cadilo, John RuelDaculan, and Jaime Bacsal also faces multiple murder charges due to November 05 incident.

Perjury charges were also filed against Paul Olendan, Abellanosa, and Laraga for lying on court proceeding for search warrant issuance. Olendan stated that he saw Mayor Espinosa holding a gun and Raul Yap was repacking an illegal substance.

Due to his Olendan’s statement “OplanGalugas” was conducted on October 30, 2016, but authorities found nothing at the jail cells. NBI conclude that it is impossible for Espinosa to possess firearms and illegal drugs inside their jail cells.

The gunshots heard from the jail cell of Espinosa was not from a shootout, a police officer positioned near the jail cell of Espinosa and gives a thumbs-down signal to other officers after the gunshots, based on the result of the investigation revealed by NBI Region 8 Director Jerry Abiera.

The police officers turned off the lights followed by several gunshots, according to the testimony of a certain inmate named Donald Palermo. He also points Laraga as one of the police officers who shot Espinosa.

A policeman wearing gloves and holding a gun enters the jail cell of Espinosa after several gunshots but the police were no longer holding the firearm when he came out of Espinosa’s cell. Meanwhile, on cell No.7 where Yap was detained, inmates was ordered to left Yap alone in the cell.

Abiera also elaborated that the direction of gunfire was too far from the cell’s door because if the shootout was happened the bullets would hit near the door. There are 2 bullet holes found the first one hits the cell walls 2.3m away from the door while the second bullet was found near the comfort room.